MISSOURI, USA — Countless stories trace the lives of descendants of those forcibly taken from Africa and brought to America centuries ago. These narratives not only illuminate the deep connections between past and present, but they also reveal a legacy of resilience and determination that has endured through the ages.
RELATED: What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
As the late poet Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you’ve been.” The journey forward requires a profound understanding of our history, but uncovering that history is no easy task. This is why, every year since Gerald R. Ford’s presidency, each U.S. president—through to Joe Biden—has issued statements honoring the spirit and significance of Black History Month.
The story of Black America is still being written. These are just a few of the powerful stories 5 On Your Side has covered in recent years, each one shedding light on an unbroken thread of resilience and legacy.
5 On Your Side reporter Sydney Stallworth talks about how Black families can continue the perseveration of their history by digitizing their memories. She spoke with a genealogy team from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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5 On Your Side reporter Diamond Palmer discusses the U.S. National Park Services’ decision to grant the Missouri Botanical Garden a grant that will display the evidence of slaves on the land and their desire for freedom in the 1800s.
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5 On Your Side reporter Mercedes MacKay spoke with a midwife about her clinic’s mission to help Black woman have safer childbirths.
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5 On Your Side reporter Mike Bush spoke with Dr. Jonvita Oruwari, one of the 2% of Black women in the medical field. She plans to inspire others. Dr. Oruwari is a breast cancer surgeon who wants to break stereotypes.
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5 On Your Side reporter Sydney Stallworth spoke with a public historian about one local family’s decision to buy a home only to find out it was located in a racially restrictive covenant. The case grabbed the attention of the nation and went all the way to the supreme court.
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Black babies are six times more likely to die in the first year of life than white babies, Sydney Stallworth learned from Affinia healthcare CEO Kendra Holmes.
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5 On Your Side sports reporter Frank Cusumano lists the top most influential athletes that represented St. Louis.
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Mary Meachum was a teacher and a hero to many slaves in St. Louis. 5 On Your Side reporter Sydney Stallworth shares the story of the abolitionist and conductor of the underground railroad.
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5 On Your Side reporter Sydney Stallworth shares evidence of the Freedom School in St. Louis along the Mississippi River. This came after the education of Black and mixed people was outlawed in Missouri. The river was outside of Missouri’s jurisdiction and federally regulated.
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Local relatives have spent half a century unpacking their family tree only to hit a brick wall. The two women have grown into family historians proving that anything is possible.
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Just 60 years ago, a predominately Black neighborhood once housed 20,000 people. After decades of its history being buried, an art installation has been erected right in front of the City SC soccer stadium, which now sits where Mill Creek used to be.
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5 On Your Side reporter Mercedes MacKay covered the Reparations Commission recommendations in several key areas: Housing and neighborhood development, target cash payments to Black residents, public health, education, economic justice and wealth creation, criminal justice and policing, and state violence and legal reform.
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5 On Your Side reporter Mike Bush interviewed Legacy Jackson, a St. Louis teen, who has committed her life to teaching others about the importance of service.
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5 On Your Side reporter Mercedes Mackay covered the live discussion of community members who want to revitalize historic Black neighborhoods.
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5 On Your Side reporter Brent Solomon spoke with a group that intends to make St. Louis a better place. The violence interrupters have been acknowledged by the city’s Office of Violence. They have contributed to the decline in crimes across St. Louis by just being present in the community.
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5 On Your Side report Brent Solomon spoke with a descendant of a slave named Celia. The descendant worked to preserve the integrity of Celia’s reputation over a century aftershe said Celia was being sexually abused by her master.
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5 On Your Side reporter Travis Cummings spoke with community members and students who opposed the decisions made by the board.
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5 On Your Side reporter Sydney Stallworth shared the story of the slave owned by Williams Clark. A museum educator with St. Louis Parks and Recreation shared how York, the slave, helped Lewis and Clark survive their two-year expeditions.
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5 On Your Side Holden Kurwicki sat down with the new Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson. This woman made history in St. Louis in 2024 when she took this position with plans to protect the people and uphold the Constitution.
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Black history is far more than a month of remembrance—it’s a vital thread woven into the fabric of American history, one often left untold. The resilience of those who came before us stands as a powerful testament to the strength within us all, reminding us that our shared history is still being written.
By honoring those who shaped the past, we empower ourselves to shape the future—through unity, education, and a commitment to continue building a more informed and compassionate society.
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